Alabama loss = Why Boise State should not get a shot

[Fingolfin269]

I appreciate what is going on at Boise State. I know they can only play the schedule that's in front of them and they probably get some push back from big time schools who would rather play a cupcake than a Boise State. But I just can't help but see what Alabama has faced over the past 3 weeks and wonder if Boise would survive. And I think that's really the rub most people who are fans of major conference football teams have with teams like Boise State and TCU. They may be good but they don't have to deal with the week in and week out physical and mental beating you take when facing a schedule like Alabama's.

Let's compare the last three weeks:

September 25th:
Alabama beats Arkansas (Away)
Boise State beats Oregon State (Home)

October 2nd:
Alabama beats Florida (Home)
Boise State beats New Mexico State (Away)

October 9th:
Alabama loses to South Carolina (Away)
Boise State beats Toledo (Home)

**I am not a Bama fan. I hate Bama.*

I hate the BCS more and want a playoff so I guess for playoff hopefuls the best thing to hope for is that all teams other than Boise/TCU end up with a loss and they both (or maybe just one) still get left out at the end?

 

[Spineshank]

Boise should get a shot because every big time team they play, they beat.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Boise should get a shot because every big time team they play, they beat.

The point is they play a 'big time team' (Virginia Tech... James Madison lol?) once per season. Alabama just played three in a row. The question is not whether Boise can beat a team one time, the question is whether they should be as deserving as a one-loss big time conference school who has to go through 'big time teams' week in and week out. The answer is no.

 

[Cogman]

Boise should get a shot because every big time team they play, they beat.

I agree. People laugh and shrug off boise state because "They don't have as vigorous of a schedule as the big name teams". To which I say "Well Duh! You guys won't let them try because you're all convinced they couldn't do it."

We'll never know how a tougher schedule will affect boise because none of the big name teams think they are worth anything (thus won't give them a shot).

 

[Cogman]

The point is they play a 'big time team' (Virginia Tech... James Madison lol?) once per season. Alabama just played three in a row. The question is not whether Boise can beat a team one time, the question is whether they should be as deserving as a one-loss big time conference school who has to go through 'big time teams' week in and week out. The answer is no.

The fact is, boise doesn't get a chance to play the 'big time teams'. If they could, we might actually see if boise really can handle more.

 

[da loser]

I agree. People laugh and shrug off boise state because "They don't have as vigorous of a schedule as the big name teams". To which I say "Well Duh! You guys won't let them try because you're all convinced they couldn't do it."

We'll never know how a tougher schedule will affect boise because none of the big name teams think they are worth anything (thus won't give them a shot).

nah, big teams don't want to play them because they might lose to them and legitimize them, then the cats out of the bag. big teams want to keep the exclusive club and money.

 

[Gibsons]

The fact is, boise doesn't get a chance to play the 'big time teams'. If they could, we might actually see if boise really can handle more.

But they don't. They have a two game schedule this year, and it's already over.

Bama's first half is tougher than Boise's entire schedule, and they've got two ranked teams, huge rivalries, to go. Not to mention a possible SEC CG.

 

[postmortemIA]

Well with so many teams, over a hundred, how do you make fair playoffs schedule? I think root problem is that there are too many teams that play like are they are same level, but they are not. Just see scores from top team vs. filler. first step would be to reduce number of teams to manageable size and make them play each other only.

 

[Gibsons]

dp sorry

 

[rcpratt]

They don't deserve a shot over any BCS conference team with one loss.

Playoff system please.

 

[actuarial]

The point is they play a 'big time team' (Virginia Tech... James Madison lol?) once per season. Alabama just played three in a row. The question is not whether Boise can beat a team one time, the question is whether they should be as deserving as a one-loss big time conference school who has to go through 'big time teams' week in and week out. The answer is no.

So once they get into the BCS bowl the bigger time teams will demand their schedule gets tougher, and the only way is if they consent to play them.

That solves your problem, and doesn't punish Boise because the big guys won't play them.

Basically, I see it as
a) Don't let them in BCS bowl, they never get a shot because you don't allow them based on their schedule, there's no incentive for the teams with influence to change things
b) Let them in the BCS bowl, we find out if they're legit, there's incentive for the team with influence to change things (because not changing things potentially cost them a championship)

 

[her209]

Oh look, another SEC chest thumping thread.

I'd bet if they switched to a playoff system, SEC fans will still find a way to cry about how its not fair.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Oh look, another SEC chest thumping thread.

I'd bet if they switched to a playoff system, SEC fans will still find a way to cry about how its not fair.

Did you even read where I wrote major conference? This goes for a 1-loss Oregon team, a 1-loss Ohio State team, a 1-loss etc. team from a big time conference. But please continue to read this as if I'm trying to SEC 'chest thump' or whatever you're talking about. Of course perhaps you don't consider your Pac 10 to be a major conference anymore which would then suddenly cause your post to make sense to me even if I disagree with your assessment of the Pac 10.

 

[her209]

Did you even read where I wrote major conference? This goes for a 1-loss Oregon team, a 1-loss Ohio State team, a 1-loss etc. team from a big time conference. But please continue to read this as if I'm trying to SEC 'chest thump' or whatever you're talking about. Of course perhaps you don't consider your Pac 10 to be a major conference anymore which would then suddenly cause your post to make sense to me even if I disagree with your assessment of the Pac 10.

They may be good but they don't have to deal with the week in and week out physical and mental beating you take when facing a schedule like <insert SEC team name here>

Oh please... this is codeword for "SEC is the best".

 

[Fingolfin269]

Oh please... this is codeword for "SEC is the best".

So USC and Oregon must play crappy schedules in your mind. Gotcha.

Stanford schedule (as related to those in the OP):
Notre Dame
Oregon
USC

Real weak...

 

[EagleKeeper]

As others have stated the BCS conference teams are scared to play Boise. The OP states that Alabama has played three strong teams; Why can not the SEC and other conference teams schedule one game from within each conference with Boise and remove a cupcake game. That would provide 3-5 "quality" opponents each year to Boise and allow the cupcakes to still be racked up with a conference.

But that could also cause some "quality" opponents of Boise to look bad.

 

[zinfamous]

I agree. People laugh and shrug off boise state because "They don't have as vigorous of a schedule as the big name teams". To which I say "Well Duh! You guys won't let them try because you're all convinced they couldn't do it."

We'll never know how a tougher schedule will affect boise because none of the big name teams think they are worth anything (thus won't give them a shot).

It's not that at all. Schedules are determined more than a year in advance, sometimes several years for the big time programs. I remember back in 03 & '04, when NCSU played a home and home against Ohio State, those contracts were signed back in 2000. It's not that no one lets them play anyone good, it's that Boise State is in a joke conference. To get a solid non-conference schedule, they have to plan in advance, and to get even 2 solid programs to play you in the same season would be a major coup.

I think for Boise State's sake, the conference needs to expand and try and pilfer some more respected programs.

 

[rcpratt]

'Bama down to 8 in the Coaches'. MSU up at 11 somehow, beating a completely mediocre team shouldn't move you up quite that much. That mediocre team is still hanging in at 24 somehow.

 

[Fingolfin269]

As others have stated the BCS conference teams are scared to play Boise. The OP states that Alabama has played three strong teams; Why can not the SEC and other conference teams schedule one game from within each conference with Boise and remove a cupcake game. That would provide 3-5 "quality" opponents each year to Boise and allow the cupcakes to still be racked up with a conference.

But that could also cause some "quality" opponents of Boise to look bad.

Like I said, I feel bad for Boise. But the fact of the matter is the big conference teams have nothing to gain by scheduling them. They play Boise+ caliber teams week in and week out. Why should they give up their cup cake game so Boise's schedule can look better?

This all still comes back to a playoff. Forget all of this scheduling crap, have an 8-team playoff and be done with it.

 

[her209]

So USC and Oregon must play crappy schedules in your mind. Gotcha.

Stanford schedule (as related to those in the OP):
Notre Dame
Oregon
USC

Real weak...

Hmmm... I never said that. SEC fans say that about pretty much every conference though.

 

[Drako]

'Bama down to 8 in the Coaches'. MSU up at 11 somehow, beating a completely mediocre team shouldn't move you up quite that much. That mediocre team is still hanging in at 24 somehow.

And a shitty Florida team with two losses is ranked 22.

In another 4 weeks, Michigan will have 3 more loses, so they will be out of the picture. Michigan State on the other hand may well move up into the top 5.

 

[rcpratt]

And a shitty Florida team with two losses is ranked 22.

In another 4 weeks, Michigan will have 3 more loses, so they will be out of the picture. Michigan State on the other hand may well move up into the top 5.

Maybe, but I still think Iowa is much better than Sparty. They definitely have a real opportunity with OSU off the sched, though. Besides Iowa, the rest of the games should be gimmes.

 

[Gibsons]

Maybe, but I still think Iowa is much better than Sparty. They definitely have a real opportunity with OSU off the sched, though. Besides Iowa, the rest of the games should be gimmes.

I can hear Kirk Herbstreit preaching for an OSU-MSU championship game already.

 

[Drako]

I can hear Kirk Herbstreit preaching for an OSU-MSU championship game already.

Championship game? WTF you talking about?

 

[Gibsons]

Championship game? WTF you talking about?

Tostitos BCS National Championship Game
BCS No. 1 vs. BCS No. 2 Glendale, Ariz.
U. of Phoenix Stadium Jan. 10
8:30 p.m. ESPN